THE bus service between Rosebud and Monash University’s Peninsula campus in Frankston has been handed another lifeline after the state government stepped in to extend a trial until June 2017.
The service connecting Rosebud with Monash has had a precarious existence, starting as the PenBus service in 2012 when the federal government provided $1.5 million to Mornington Peninsula Shire for a three-year trial.
When the funding ended in 2015, students were left stranded until a new partnership between the state government, Mornington Peninsula Shire and Monash University saw the route 887 service reprised for 12 months in time for the start of first semester.
With that funding agreement over, the state government has now extended the trial until June 2017.
Route 887 operates six express round trips Monday to Friday between Rosebud and the Monash University Peninsula campus, with stops at Rosebud, Safety Beach, Mt Martha, Mornington, Mt Eliza and Frankston station, and connecting with the inter-campus shuttle to the Clayton campus.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said many passengers relied on the service to study and get where they need to go.
“The community want this service to continue and we’ll ensure it does – this extension will help get students, staff, and locals between Monash University and Rosebud every day.”
Nepean MP Martin Dixon said a permanent solution was still needed.
“This would provide a welcome improvement for students and also to the broader long suffering public transport users from the Mornington Peninsula.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 10 January 2017
